Early front end engineering study for the monopile foundations at a UK offshore wind farm

The designs were developed using OPTIF Arup’s proprietary foundation design tool. Arup’s experts used OPTIF’s rapid load analysis capabilities and optimisation algorithms to deliver robust and optimised foundation designs in short timescales, with flexibility to accommodate input from RWE during the design development. The analysis considered the complex geotechnical and metocean conditions at the site, and optimisation balanced primary steel mass and supply-chain considerations to holistically assess the most appropriate and cost effective foundation design for the site. OPTIF was used to evaluate many thousands of design configurations to assess the site-wide implications of varying key design inputs and enable data-driven decision making in close collaboration with the client.

Arup’s advanced integrated load analysis (ILA) capability provided particular value for this project, including development of a bespoke aeroelastic model of the wind turbine generator tuned to project-specific requirement. This improved the accuracy of design load estimates and significantly reduced uncertainty and risk ahead of engagement of a turbine supplier. The ILA also enabled sensitivity studies to be performed considering varying wind turbine tower design configurations, allowing for integrated assessment and optimisation of the full support structure and further reduction in uncertainty in the resulting foundation designs.

The early FEED study provided an accurate and advanced substructure assessment, enabling RWE to progress development decisions at a higher confidence level as the project moves forward.